That’s the view of two young Community Councillors who have urged their generation to follow in their footsteps and stand for election before Friday’s deadline.
Both Jamie Grant (23) and Kathleen Szwebs (18) are members of Mercat Cross Community Council and have found representing their area a rewarding experience.
Jamie, who is from Cardenden in Fife, came to the city in 2013 to study politics at Stirling University and quickly got involved in his local Community Council.
He said: “At Stirling Students’ Union I represented the views of a vast and diverse community of students and I was looking at ways, in my first year, to enhance links with the city.
“I knew the student community, the university and the local population had different needs and expectations and I thought I could play a role in improving those relations.
“One of the ways I thought I could do that was by joining my Community Council. I got a leaflet through the door saying there were elections on.
“I voted in them and then I went along to the meetings for two or three months, they asked if I wanted to be co-opted on, and I said yes.
“A few months later, I was elected secretary and at the AGM I took a step back due to other commitments but I’m still a community councillor and excited what it will achieve.
“To any young people, I would say, go along and give it time. Your first couple of meetings may seem a bit alien as young people don’t typically don’t get exposed to that kind of environment.
“The people around the table value my opinion and I’ve never felt patronised or put down and all the stereotypes of young people going into something like this with no experience haven’t been true.”
Kathleen is a student in Glasgow but has lived in the local area for her whole life. She joined her community council at the age of 16, the youngest age people can take part.
She said: “Having done it for two years, I would definitely recommend it. I have lived up at the top of the town for all of my life and I have always been quite politically aware. I was involved with the youth parliament for a bit and they raised the awareness for the lack of youth participation, particularly in local politics.
“I found the opportunity to join the community council and I thought it would be good to get a youth perspective on it as normally it’s not attended by young people.
“It’s supposed to be representative so I thought it would be good to have a young person on it so people in the town felt like they had a voice.
“Community councils have a reputation for being for older people but since joining, I haven’t found it intimidating. There is no age-barrier in a Community Council and it would be great to get more young people in, ridding it of that stigma attached to community councils in Stirling and Scotland.”
Elections for the 42 Community Councils in Stirling, which take place every four years, will get underway on October 1, when nomination papers become available. Anyone over 16 can take part.
Community Councils are the most local tier of elected representation and perform a vital democratic function. They represent local people, act as a voice for their area and work with others to improve services.
Community Councils are involved in a wide range of activities and issues, including planning and licencing applications, and can support local initiatives through securing funding and passing on expertise.
Kathleen and Jamie have first-hand knowledge of what Community Councils can achieve, whether in bringing people together through local projects or standing up for the views of their area.
Kathleen said: “It’s good when you can do something for members of the community. We had a bench put up for a former community councillor and it’s quite satisfying to see how his family were really appreciative of that.
“You can definitely make a difference. It may seem like little things but it’s great when the community gets involved. We have also provided free community meals which allowed the community to see what we’re about and connect with other people in the area.
“I think they’re often overlooked as they are really important to bridging a gap between communities and the Council that can sometimes exist.”
Jamie continued: “It’s not a talking shop. We’ve held community meals, we’ve made sure the views of our residents are made to other community councils and Stirling Council. I’ve really enjoyed it.
“If you see something amiss or someone has an idea about something, it’s nice to have a bit of inside knowledge about that, it’s good to be the first port of call for citizens.
“You have the finger on the pulse of the city in a Community Council which I find fascinating and to have the channels open to the decision-makers is exciting as well.
“I get a kick out of it as I like helping and representing people, and making sure their views are heard, which is important. I enjoy serving my community, and I was looking for a role to play to bridge that gap between students and the city of Stirling.”
For anyone in Stirling debating whether to participate in the elections, the pair had this message – try it and see.
Jamie said: “From the community council’s perspective, they recognise the value that young people bring as they need fresh blood, new ideas and want to represent their own citizens.
“Given students and young people make up a large proportion of the population, the community council would be doing it a disservice by not including their views.
“If any young person or student is thinking about a career in the public sector and representing people, it’s also a good experience.”
Kathleen added: “Even if you’re not sure, just come along to the meetings and see what we’re about and you might find that it would be something you’d be interested in.
“Even attending Community Council meetings is important as you can see what’s going on in the community and get your viewpoints across which could eventually become actions.
“Even if you’re just staying here for six months it would be great to hear your input, and it’s always valuable to get different perspectives.”
To stand as a Community Councillor, you must live in your chosen community council area and be named on the electoral register in the area.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, October 19, 2018.
For further information, contact @communityengagement@stirling.gov.uk or 01786 233076.
Please note that some Community Council boundaries have changed following the Review of Community Councils.
Note: Picture shows Mercat Cross Community Councillors, Jamie Grant and Kathleen Szwebs, in front of the historic Tolbooth in Stirling city centre